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GENS 279 - Indianapolis

When to Quote

Use direct quotes when:

  • wording that is so memorable or powerful, or expresses a point so perfectly, that you cannot change it without weakening its meaning
  • authors' opinions you wish to emphasize
  • author's words that show you are considering varying perspectives
  • respected authorities whose opinions support your ideas
  • Authors whose opinions challenge or vary greatly from those of others in the field

 

From:  Writing in Action by Andrea A. Lunsford p. 188

Quotation Examples

Use quotation marks to indicate direction quotes. 

Original Text:

Student-centered learning, or student-centeredness, is a model which puts the student in the center of the learning process

--Z. Cubukcu, "Teachers' Evaluation of Student-Centered Learning Environments" (2012), p. 50

Plagiarism (this example does not use quotations marks):

According to Cubukcu (2012), student-centered learning is a model which puts the student in the center of the learning process (p.50).

Not Plagiarism: 

According to Cubukcu (2012), "student-centered learning...is a model which puts the student in the center of the learning process" (p. 50)

From APA Pocket Manuel 8th Ed. by Diana Hacker and Nancy Sommers p. 183

 

Signal Verbs

Avoid using the phrase "the authors says" multiple times in your paper, by using some of these alternative signal verbs. 

acknowledges            concludes           emphasizes             replies
advises                       concurs               expresses                 reports
agrees                         confirms             interprets                responds
allows                          criticizes             lists                          reveal
answers                       declares               objects                    says
asserts                          describes             observes                 states
believes                       disagrees             offers                      suggests
charges                        discusses             opposes                  thinks
claims                          disputes             remarks                  writes
 

From:  Writing in Action by Andrea A. Lunsford p. 190